Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dreadnought · 08-18-2007, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSM-IV

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
Requires excessive admiration.
Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

To count as a personality disorder, the narcissism must not only meet at least five of the criteria listed above, but must also interfere with a persons ability to function in everyday life.

So how does Jesus score if we take the NT as an indication?

Check. The son of a carpenter expects to be recognized as the son of God without actually having done anything as yet
Check.
Check, but did also associate with people of a lower standing which may be just his peculiar variant of narcissism, i.e the perfect son of God
Check
Check. Cursing the fig tree anyone?
Check. He did gather a posse of admirers to follow him around and assure him of his wonderfulness
Check, though with some doubt. I can't think of a single instance in the NT where he shows empathy as opposed to showing off.
Check I think. He/his followers is expecting to be persecuted which suggests that others will be envious.
Check

As for interfering with his ability to function in everyday life he did end up nailed to a cross after preaching for only a couple of years.

wordy · 08-18-2007, 05:20 AM

He could have been a Sociopath too? They are rather similar. Look it up

Dreadnought · 08-18-2007, 05:42 AM

He would have fulfilled the criteria for Anti-social personality disorder as such, but there are three additional requirements one of which is:
Evidence of

conduct_disorder with onset before age 15 years. We don't really "know" what he did before he was 15 so narcissist it is in my opinion.

GakuseiDon · 08-18-2007, 06:06 AM

Some say that we project onto Jesus those things we see in ourselves...

No Robots · 08-18-2007, 06:22 AM

The great man of spirit always says "I"; and the little spiritless men, who hate him for it, always say "we".

Dreadnought · 08-18-2007, 06:42 AM

And when troubled by arguments the religious always attack the man and not the argument. Burn the witch! Burn the heretic! Burn the blasphemer!

Because everyone knows that Jesus was such a swell guy, if indeed one ought to call him a guy.

No Robots · 08-18-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

And when troubled by arguments the religious always attack the man and not the argument. Burn the witch! Burn the heretic! Burn the blasphemer!

Because everyone knows that Jesus was such a swell guy, if indeed one ought to call him a guy.

Er, it is the great men of spirit like Christ and Socrates who are burned by the little spiritless men.

Solo · 08-18-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSM-IV

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
Believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
Requires excessive admiration.
Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

To count as a personality disorder, the narcissism must not only meet at least five of the criteria listed above, but must also interfere with a persons ability to function in everyday life.

So how does Jesus score if we take the NT as an indication?

Check. The son of a carpenter expects to be recognized as the son of God without actually having done anything as yet
Check.
Check, but did also associate with people of a lower standing which may be just his peculiar variant of narcissism, i.e the perfect son of God
Check
Check. Cursing the fig tree anyone?
Check. He did gather a posse of admirers to follow him around and assure him of his wonderfulness
Check, though with some doubt. I can't think of a single instance in the NT where he shows empathy as opposed to showing off.
Check I think. He/his followers is expecting to be persecuted which suggests that others will be envious.
Check

As for interfering with his ability to function in everyday life he did end up nailed to a cross after preaching for only a couple of years.

Before any new diagnosis of Jesus, pray consider the treatment Jesus received at the hands of poorly trained psychiatrists. :angel:

Jiri

Thomas Paine · 08-18-2007, 09:33 AM

Interesting, a thread about a person who likely never existed at all. . .

No Robots · 08-18-2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Paine

Interesting, a thread about a person who likely never existed at all. . .

Interesting. A post from a person who likely knows nothing at all.

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08-18-2007, 05:20 AM	#2
wordy Contributor Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden, Europe Posts: 12,091	He could have been a Sociopath too? They are rather similar. Look it up

08-18-2007, 05:42 AM	#3
Dreadnought Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 268	He would have fulfilled the criteria for Anti-social personality disorder as such, but there are three additional requirements one of which is: Evidence of conduct_disorder with onset before age 15 years. We don't really "know" what he did before he was 15 so narcissist it is in my opinion.

08-18-2007, 06:06 AM	#4
GakuseiDon Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 5,714	Some say that we project onto Jesus those things we see in ourselves...

08-18-2007, 06:22 AM	#5
No Robots Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Edmonton Posts: 5,679	The great man of spirit always says "I"; and the little spiritless men, who hate him for it, always say "we".

08-18-2007, 06:42 AM	#6
Dreadnought Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 268	And when troubled by arguments the religious always attack the man and not the argument. Burn the witch! Burn the heretic! Burn the blasphemer! Because everyone knows that Jesus was such a swell guy, if indeed one ought to call him a guy.

08-18-2007, 09:33 AM	#9
Thomas Paine Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Independence, Missouri Posts: 9	Interesting, a thread about a person who likely never existed at all. . .

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